Post by Bobbi on Jul 12, 2022 12:59:49 GMT -5
The transport was slowing, the vehicle still some distance away from their target. But even that far away the sounds of battle could be heard. Blaster fire echoed around them, the sounds of ion shells exploding sending dirt and stone into the hair in a heavy pelt as it fell back to the ground. The sound of droid-issued commands filtering back to them from the front line. And then: silence.
It was quiet except for the rush of feet across the ground as resistance fighters rushed forward out of the transport. Murra did as told and waited, hanging back for the rear edge of the group. She picked an officer, Officer Ge’jack if she remembered the name right, and moved in step with him.
Ge’jack was a stout duro, big enough to shield her if the need arose. Catching a glimpse of her moving alongside him, his blaster rifle held at the ready with its barrel low and toward the ground, he sent the young Jedi a small nod. The understanding was there: he’d keep an eye on her. They all would, and in exchange she’d be their shield if it was needed. Their shield, and their sword, because blaster fire could fail here.
Their advance was made swiftly, the front holding position against rocky outcroppings until the rear caught up, pushing through under solid cover from their fellows to become the new front line while the rest caught up and the process started all over again with positions being switched bringing the rear to the front, and the front to the rear keeping their people covered as they approached the front line.
Murra moved in the shadow of these men, following Ge’jack and keeping her eyes open to the ridges above them. The black stone copings gave the planet a jagged appearance, the landscape stuck her as desolate.
The tattered sounds of what remained of the battle grew louder. That feeling of something waiting ahead grew stronger. It was almost as if she could hear a voice, as if she could see a face but the details weren’t there. There was no definition to it other than that it existed and she could almost make it out. A hand reached from the darkness ahead, extending -- beckoning her closer.
“Kid!” The hiss came from Ge’jack through his translator, the sound of the mechanical voice matching the inflection that he had meant to intone with his native tongue, “Hey, Kid, get -down-”
Murra blinked, shaking away what had distracted her to find their group just beyond the point of no return that would have them braced against battle with the Empire.
Recovery was quick. Murra pushed herself to the side, ducking low against the rocks that Ge’jack was using for cover, just like the rest of the team. That flurry of motion caused the thigh length wrap of cloth she wore to float upward, the hilt of her lightsaber briefly becoming visible.
From ahead of them, came the commander’s voice. That moment had not been missed, “Popper, stay with her!” He called back to where Ge’jack and Murra were hunkered.
Ge’jack’s confirmation was a shouted and solid, “Copy!”
The rest of the team would be inching forward, the same tactic employed now as it had been all along. The front would guard, the back would push up and so it would repeat until they crossed that threshold where skirmish was unavoidable.
Murra rose, staying in a low crouch to follow after, but a hand stopped her as it laid against her arm. She stilled, and found Ge’jack watching her. “We stay here until you’re needed, Jedi. They’ll clear the path for us.”
A look went up, just over the rough edges of the rock that was blocking them from view. Engagement was beginning. Blaster bolts were singing through the air. Men would be dying. She could feel it. She looked as if she were about to head off, to run after the drop team so Ge’jack kept his gloved hand right where it was, closed tightly around her arm. “We stay here.” He told her again, relaxing his grasp only after Murra settled back down against the rock next to him.
Once she was settled, Ge’jack shifted, bracing his left shoulder against the rock, his rifle held at the ready still. He peeked around the side, catching a brief glimpse of the battle. “When we move, you stay close.” His translator spoke for him, and Murra gave a small nod while leaning her head back against the rock and shut her eyes.
The battle was shut out, Ge’jack was shut out. What she reached for, through The Force, was what had reached for her. It may have been a mistake, but it already knew she was there. She needed to know what it was before it caught her unaware.
It was quiet except for the rush of feet across the ground as resistance fighters rushed forward out of the transport. Murra did as told and waited, hanging back for the rear edge of the group. She picked an officer, Officer Ge’jack if she remembered the name right, and moved in step with him.
Ge’jack was a stout duro, big enough to shield her if the need arose. Catching a glimpse of her moving alongside him, his blaster rifle held at the ready with its barrel low and toward the ground, he sent the young Jedi a small nod. The understanding was there: he’d keep an eye on her. They all would, and in exchange she’d be their shield if it was needed. Their shield, and their sword, because blaster fire could fail here.
Their advance was made swiftly, the front holding position against rocky outcroppings until the rear caught up, pushing through under solid cover from their fellows to become the new front line while the rest caught up and the process started all over again with positions being switched bringing the rear to the front, and the front to the rear keeping their people covered as they approached the front line.
Murra moved in the shadow of these men, following Ge’jack and keeping her eyes open to the ridges above them. The black stone copings gave the planet a jagged appearance, the landscape stuck her as desolate.
The tattered sounds of what remained of the battle grew louder. That feeling of something waiting ahead grew stronger. It was almost as if she could hear a voice, as if she could see a face but the details weren’t there. There was no definition to it other than that it existed and she could almost make it out. A hand reached from the darkness ahead, extending -- beckoning her closer.
“Kid!” The hiss came from Ge’jack through his translator, the sound of the mechanical voice matching the inflection that he had meant to intone with his native tongue, “Hey, Kid, get -down-”
Murra blinked, shaking away what had distracted her to find their group just beyond the point of no return that would have them braced against battle with the Empire.
Recovery was quick. Murra pushed herself to the side, ducking low against the rocks that Ge’jack was using for cover, just like the rest of the team. That flurry of motion caused the thigh length wrap of cloth she wore to float upward, the hilt of her lightsaber briefly becoming visible.
From ahead of them, came the commander’s voice. That moment had not been missed, “Popper, stay with her!” He called back to where Ge’jack and Murra were hunkered.
Ge’jack’s confirmation was a shouted and solid, “Copy!”
The rest of the team would be inching forward, the same tactic employed now as it had been all along. The front would guard, the back would push up and so it would repeat until they crossed that threshold where skirmish was unavoidable.
Murra rose, staying in a low crouch to follow after, but a hand stopped her as it laid against her arm. She stilled, and found Ge’jack watching her. “We stay here until you’re needed, Jedi. They’ll clear the path for us.”
A look went up, just over the rough edges of the rock that was blocking them from view. Engagement was beginning. Blaster bolts were singing through the air. Men would be dying. She could feel it. She looked as if she were about to head off, to run after the drop team so Ge’jack kept his gloved hand right where it was, closed tightly around her arm. “We stay here.” He told her again, relaxing his grasp only after Murra settled back down against the rock next to him.
Once she was settled, Ge’jack shifted, bracing his left shoulder against the rock, his rifle held at the ready still. He peeked around the side, catching a brief glimpse of the battle. “When we move, you stay close.” His translator spoke for him, and Murra gave a small nod while leaning her head back against the rock and shut her eyes.
The battle was shut out, Ge’jack was shut out. What she reached for, through The Force, was what had reached for her. It may have been a mistake, but it already knew she was there. She needed to know what it was before it caught her unaware.
